You will update your residency information and mailing address whenever you return to ACC after being gone for one year. You also should resubmit the information any time you believe your status has changed.

ACC must verify whether a student pays taxes to the ACC District to determine the correct tuition rate.

Can I fill out the residency information form online?

Most official student forms require a signature, so they must be printed and signed before processing. If you cannot submit the form in person, you can mail or fax it to the Admissions and Records Office along with a copy of your official photo ID.

Will my residency status transfer from another Texas college?

If you were classified a Texas resident while attending a Texas college or university for any part of the academic year before enrolling ACC, you still will be classified as a Texas resident. The Admissions and Records Office may request that you obtain written verification of your residency classification from your previous institution.

Determining classification

I am an international student. How I can establish residency?

If you are an international student meeting one of the categories below, you are eligible to obtain Texas residency status if you meet the basic requirements by living in the state for 12 consecutive months and establishing a domicile in Texas prior to enrollment:

Parolee, holder of asylum status or refugee

A student who has applied for adjustment of status to permanent residency (must have received an I-485 notice of action for the green card application)

Holder of a visa that is eligible to domicile in the United States.

High school graduation in Texas after 36 months of residence in the state (see next FAQ).

If your parents are divorced and claim you as a dependent in alternate tax years, you must submit a copy of their divorce decree and a notarized letter stating that the custodial parent is a Texas resident, if applicable. If the custodial parent is not a resident, submit a notarized letter stating the Texas resident/parent provides at least 50% of your support.

If I am temporarily absent from the state, will I lose my resident status?

A temporary absence does not affect your residency status if it is for military, Defense Department, State Department, or Public Health service, or if it is because of a job assignment or for education. When submitting your residency form, include a letter stating your Texas residency status and the reason for the temporary absence, along with supporting documentation.

Does marriage to a Texas resident make me a Texas resident?

Marriage to a Texas resident does not grant immediate residency status. You must establish your own residency by living or working here for 12 consecutive months. If you do not earn an income, you must submit a copy of your marriage license and spouse’s proof of residency when you update your residency status. You can attend ACC while establishing residency; however, you will pay out-of-state rates.

I am a dependent, and my parents live in another state. Can I establish residency?

No. You cannot establish Texas residency while being claimed as a dependent. Students over 18 can establish residency as an independent student if they are not claimed as a dependent on their parents’ tax return.